Seven bodies were recovered yesterday, a day after two avalanches buried eight snowmobilers in western Canada's backcountry, police said.

Three other men from the group clawed through the snow and survived the back-to-back avalanches Sunday.

One other man was missing in the snow slides and presumed dead, said Royal Canadian Mounted Police Cpl. Chris Faulkner.

HAVELOCK, N.C. Marine pilot dies in crash of fighter jet in training

A Marine fighter jet crashed yesterday about a mile short of a runway at an eastern North Carolina air base, killing the pilot, a Marine Corps spokesman said.

The single-seat AV-8B Harrier jet was returning to the base after a training flight when it crashed about 12:30 p.m. in an unpopulated area, said Mike Barton, spokesman for Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point. No one else was hurt, Barton said.

The pilot's identity was being withheld until next of kin was notified, Barton said.

BEIJING Compensation estimate in milk deaths: $160 million

The 22 companies whose tainted milk products sickened nearly 300,000 children and were blamed in the deaths of six will likely pay $160 million in compensation to victims' families, the state-run China Daily newspaper said today.

Details of the compensation plan came shortly after trials began for 15 people on charges related to the production and sale of melamine, an industrial chemical added to milk to falsely boost protein readings in quality tests.

MOGADISHU, SOMALIA President's resignation could trigger more chaos

Somalia's president resigned yesterday after four years in office.

Abdullahi Yusuf's Western-backed government failed to extend its power throughout a country crippled by infighting and a strengthening Islamic insurgency. His resignation, which comes amid deepening international pressure, could usher in more chaos as Islamic militants scramble for power.

Within hours of the announcement, mortar shells slammed into the streets near the presidential palace in Mogadishu.